Page 2 of The Lady and the Footballer
When Lily’s mother suggested they visit her father, who was watching his new team practice, she readily agreed, primarily for Emmaline’s sake. Her friend had been a football fan for years. She would have played if she could have, and still did on theprivacy of her father’s grounds. But when it came to organized football, her only choice had been to become a fan and she was always on the sidelines, calling out to the players in a very unladylike manner precisely what they should be doing with themselves.
The few times Lily’s mother attended a match, she was horrified by Emmaline’s behaviour, while Lily always enjoyed her friend’s enthusiasm, even if her own interest in the sport was mild. She enjoyed football now and again, and watching a match was an interesting way to pass the time, but she had never understood the depths of the emotion that most people of Manchester placed in one of their teams.
One would have thought that they were winning or losing a war by how they reacted following a game, that each goal was a small battle.
She wasn't sure what harm losing a game of football did, but some of these people acted as though their very lives depended on the outcomes of the matches.
“A football club,” her mother had been muttering for the past month, ever since Lily’s father had shared that he had decided to significantly sponsor the team after spending a few years on the club’s committee. “What folly.”
It had taken her mother that entire month to express any interest in Manchester City, but today she finally decided that perhaps they should see what all the fuss was about.
Lily suspected part of the reason was to come and spend some time with her father, for he had all but abandoned them to give himself to this team, despite it not needing his physical presence.
Her father had always been very interested in the Manchester Central Football Club, having played for a few years himself while at Cambridge. Still, he had never continued in thesport as he had other matters to attend to, namely, learning what would be required of him once he became the viscount.
He was so passionate about the game that half the reason Lily attended the games was the opportunity to have something to speak with him about.
“I always knew you were in love with football, but are you sure it is the sport itself that has so captured your attention?” Lily laughed as she followed her friend’s gaze to the field before them.
She didn’t blame Emmaline, truly. In fact, she thought that perhaps after today, she was falling in love with football herself.
The pitch was covered with men as they danced around the field, pirouetting, kicking, yelling at one another in an act that was both the most graceful thing Lily had ever seen and also the most rugged.
Half of the men wore shirts that showed tanned forearms and hints of chest peeking through the top, the other half had their sleeves rolled up and a red sash across their chests.
Emmaline was fanning her face, while Lily couldn’t deny feeling a bit of heat herself.
“This was a mistake,” Lily’s mother said, straightening, placing a hand on both girls' backs as she attempted to turn them around. “I never should have brought you here. Had I known that these men would be running around half-naked as they yelled like a bunch of children, I would have insisted that we stay far away. I will never know why your father thought this was a worthwhile investment of his time and money, but I do not think—eep!”
Lily had no idea why her tirade was cut short, though her mother did seem fixated on something beyond her shoulder. When her mother turned her around, Lily reluctantly lifted her gaze to where their horse and carriage awaited, along with her mother’s diatribe all the way home.
Which meant that her eyes were no longer on the field.
Nor the men playing football upon it.
Nor, most importantly, on the ball sailing across the field, high in the air – and right towards her head.
Chapter Two
Colin hadn’t realized he was moving until he heard Tommy breathing heavily next to him as he ran close beside him.
“What did youdo?” Tommy asked, looking at him in shock.
“It was an accident!” Colin protested.
“A costly accident. I thought you wanted to play for this team.”
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Colin panted. “She has to be. It was just a soft kick.”
“To you, maybe. You grew up in a neighborhood where being able to protect yourself was a badge of honor.”
“I’ve never actually been gravely injured.”
“Close enough.”
They had just about reached the women, and Colin saw, to his great relief, that the young lady he had hit was already starting to sit up, even though the other two women were still fawning over her in great concern.
“Miss? Are you well?” he asked as he approached them, but no one responded.
